Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 7: Hours after the Cockroach Janta Party concluded its first on-ground protest at Jantar Mantar, BJP president Nitin Nabin took a sharp swipe at the movement, asserting that India's youth would not become puppets in the hands of those promoting what he termed "negative politics".
Addressing an interaction with intellectuals in Ranchi on Saturday, Nabin said the country's youth were focused on nation-building and securing their future rather than participating in anti-establishment campaigns.
"Today's youth wants to work for nation-building and secure their future. But some people have labelled the youth of this country as anti-establishment. To those who want to drag India's youth into negative politics, I want to warn them that the youth of this country will engage in positive politics," he said.
Without directly naming CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who recently arrived in India from the United States to lead the protest, Nabin remarked that some people sitting abroad believed they could dictate the direction of India's youth.
"But the youth of India will not move forward as puppets in the hands of a few people," he said.
The remarks came after hundreds of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, including NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSC examinations.
Nabin acknowledged that people have a democratic right to oppose the government but stressed that protests must remain within democratic norms.
Highlighting the achievements of young Indians, he said the country had witnessed the emergence of nearly two lakh startups and was striving to become a global information technology hub.
Referring to anti-government movements in neighbouring countries, Nabin argued that such campaigns would not resonate with Indian youth, whom he described as disciplined contributors to national development.
The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led political collective that emerged through online mobilisation around issues such as unemployment, corruption and governance, organised its first public protest in the national capital on Saturday.
The movement gained attention after activists adopted the term "cockroach" following reported remarks by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant comparing certain confrontational activists and unemployed youth to "cockroaches" and "parasites of society".
At the protest venue, demonstrators carrying placards demanding Pradhan's resignation wore cockroach masks and raised slogans against alleged examination irregularities and what they termed divisive politics.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined the gathering.
Later, CJP spokespersons announced a seven-day ultimatum for the Centre to either remove Pradhan or secure his resignation, warning that the agitation would expand nationwide if no action was taken.
The protest received support from several opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Left parties.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the movement reflected widespread frustration among young people and urged the government to address their concerns.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also expressed support, saying the voices of young protesters should reach those in power.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray described the protesters as the future of the country and urged the government not to dismiss their concerns.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra praised Dipke's initiative and voiced support for the campaign.
The Congress, however, appeared divided over the movement. While some party leaders highlighted their own protests on youth issues, others questioned the effectiveness of the CJP-led agitation and expressed concerns over alleged backing from the Aam Aadmi Party.
With organisers threatening to take the movement nationwide, the protest has added a new dimension to the political debate over examination reforms, unemployment and youth participation in public life.